The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-03-12

II IA lust a little Of surprise to find that
Col. Ralph Plumb, M. c., candidate for Gov
erpor, etc., ETC., foreclosing a $4,000 mort
gage on his peculiar organ, the Joliet Fre'''
The Colonel endeavored to make 1t strict
foreclosure, but as both he himself and the
proprie,ors had so often said land the latter
sworn) during the late campaign that the
Colonel had no interest directly or indirectly
in the concern, the other creditor Objected
10 such procedure, and demanded receiver
Accordingly. after a weeks wrestle' the
latter secured the appointment OF John
Woods, ex.postmaster, on complaint OF one
Of the stockholders on behalf Of the Chicago
creditors, who extended credit on accoun! OF
Col. Plumb's backing. Col. Plumbs mort
gage was an unrecorded mortgage secret
lien, which gave the concern credit II was
not justly entitled to- The s'ockand mate
rial will be sold at receivers sale and just
division had among the creditors. And 80
that little episide is confessed, 1t was of'en
told before only to be denied by the Colonel
during his campaign. The mystery Is, why
does he confess it now? Surely Mcintosh
earned his money! And where VIII the
lightning strike next?
49,
The county of La Sale will lose no money
by the recent showing Of defalcation in the
county Offices. The bondsmen of the officers
named in the charges are all financially
sound
II is not, however, though any evidence OF
business skill or ability on the part of the
Board of Supervisors who have repeatedly
during the past years settled with these
officers.
The facts now make it appear that the
regular semi annual settlements have been
mere arces, which mean nothing and can
mean no,hing-the merest matters OF form
and purely form.
No one questions the honesty OF the com
mittees settling with these officers; and 1t Is
only too easy to be wise atteT the past. But
il seems strange that no one had ever thought
of the necessity of at least an approach to
expert ism in matters Of 80 grave moment;
that no one ever seemed to comprehend that
aside from the county itself these semi-an-
nual settlements had a meaning for the
bondsmen of these men, and that the bonds
men had right to expect that the semi an
nual settlements, such as the law requires,
should be in fact final up to their dates 1t
is, of course, no defense for the bOndsmen to
offer these sem-annual pro forma "and-ind-
ing the same to be correct, -we-recommend.its
adoption" nevertheless these settlements
have excluded by necessity any possible pre-
cautions that the bondsmen might have taken
30 guard against any possible irregularities that
should hold them liable on their bonds; CIV
ing them sufficient reason to believe that
there we're no Irregularities and that they
could rely upon the Books endorsement OF
their principals being the truth. 1t is
gross outrage on the bondsmen that no sys
tematic settlements were had during all the
years the alleged irregularities have covered.
Il is making them now pay for the plumbers
Of others no less than the sins Of their prin-
sipals--sins that could easily have been de.
tected had anything like business manage
ment of the simplest sort been employed
This slip. shod method of settlements is mort
ly at the bottom of the whole evil-tbe prime
cause.-the temptation to the sins that have
been committed. The only fruit of such
sowing that could be possible has been
reaped; and that the great county of La Sale
will lose nothing by the transaction grows
cut of the fact the law happens to protect it
against both the dishonesty Of its servants
and the plumbers of its Legislators and guar
dams.
While the scandal business is on, why not
tackle city affairs? In the matter of city
marshal, for instance, change in admins
tration could be made to result in decided
improvement. What special qualifications
the present incumbent offers the public is a
gud pro suo for his appointment, we are at
loss to perceive, save that he is good re
publican, takes hand in the fray as ward
politician of surprising brass, though Of
probably inintsmal power. and is doing his
best to aid the temperance cause by filling
his skin SO full and so frequently that little
liquor would seem to be left on those days
for the common herd Of drinkers, whC
must needs drink early in the morning or
90 dry the balance Of the day. Indeed, the
drunkenness of the marshal is getting to be
. scondal and disgrace. Yet he has been
appointed and reappointed notwithstanding
the fact has been well known; and his re-
publicanism is the only assignabe reason
why he should have been appointed. So
lett have change of deal, if only to get
rid of a republican city marshal who hasn't
been able to keep sober on an average one
full week in month
THE COURTS.